Hurricane Preparedness
We're about to enter the peak of the hurricane season.
Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Atlantic Ocean and making two basic meteorological points:
(1) There is no need to panic.
(2) We could all be killed.
Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be in Florida.
If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to
do to prepare for the possibility that "the big one"'ll hit us.
Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple
three-step hurricane preparedness plan:
STEP 1: Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.
STEP 2: Put these supplies into your car.
STEP 3: Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween.
Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this
sensible plan.
Most people will foolishly stay here in Florida.
We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness
items:
HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:
If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance.
Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your
home meets two basic requirements:
(1) It is reasonably well-built, and
(2) It is located in Nebraska.
Unfortunately, if your home is located in Florida, or any other area
that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies
would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they
might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they
got into the insurance business in the first place.
So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will
charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of
your house.
At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss.
Since Hurricane George, I have had an estimated 27 different
home-insurance companies.
This week, the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company cover me, under a
policy, which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan
are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.
SHUTTERS:
Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the
doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets.
There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:
(1) Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make
them yourself, they're cheap. The disadvantage is that, because you
make them yourself, they will fall off.
(2) Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work
well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get
them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be
December.
(3) Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very
easy to use,and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is
that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.
(4) Hurricane-proof windows: These are the newest wrinkle in
hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can
withstand hurricane winds!
You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in
Nebraska.
Hurricane Proofing your property: As the hurricane approaches, check
your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio
furniture, visiting relatives, etc.
You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool
(if you don't have a swimming pool, you should build one immediately).
Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly
missiles.
EVACUATION ROUTE:
If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route
planned out.
(To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your
driver's license; if it says "Florida," you live in a low-lying area).
The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in
your home when a major storm hits.
Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles
from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as
a bonus, you will not be lonely.
HURRICANE SUPPLIES:
If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy
them now!
Florida tradition requires that you wait until the last possible
minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM.
In addition to food and water,you will need the following supplies:
(1) 23 flashlights. At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.
(2) Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so get some!)
(3) 55 gallon drum of underarm deodorant. (Very important!!)
(4) A big knife that you can strap to your leg. (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)
(5) A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through Andrew; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)
(6) $35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.
Of course these are just basic precautions.
As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.
Good luck, and remember: It's great living in Paradise!
Any day now, you're going to turn on the TV and see a weather person pointing to some radar blob out in the Atlantic Ocean and making two basic meteorological points:
(1) There is no need to panic.
(2) We could all be killed.
Yes, hurricane season is an exciting time to be in Florida.
If you're new to the area, you're probably wondering what you need to
do to prepare for the possibility that "the big one"'ll hit us.
Based on our experiences, we recommend that you follow this simple
three-step hurricane preparedness plan:
STEP 1: Buy enough food and bottled water to last your family for at least three days.
STEP 2: Put these supplies into your car.
STEP 3: Drive to Nebraska and remain there until Halloween.
Unfortunately, statistics show that most people will not follow this
sensible plan.
Most people will foolishly stay here in Florida.
We'll start with one of the most important hurricane preparedness
items:
HOMEOWNERS' INSURANCE:
If you own a home, you must have hurricane insurance.
Fortunately, this insurance is cheap and easy to get, as long as your
home meets two basic requirements:
(1) It is reasonably well-built, and
(2) It is located in Nebraska.
Unfortunately, if your home is located in Florida, or any other area
that might actually be hit by a hurricane, most insurance companies
would prefer not to sell you hurricane insurance, because then they
might be required to pay YOU money, and that is certainly not why they
got into the insurance business in the first place.
So you'll have to scrounge around for an insurance company, which will
charge you an annual premium roughly equal to the replacement value of
your house.
At any moment, this company can drop you like used dental floss.
Since Hurricane George, I have had an estimated 27 different
home-insurance companies.
This week, the Bob and Big Stan Insurance Company cover me, under a
policy, which states that, in addition to my premium, Bob and Big Stan
are entitled, on demand, to my kidneys.
SHUTTERS:
Your house should have hurricane shutters on all the windows, all the
doors, and -- if it's a major hurricane -- all the toilets.
There are several types of shutters, with advantages and disadvantages:
(1) Plywood shutters: The advantage is that, because you make
them yourself, they're cheap. The disadvantage is that, because you
make them yourself, they will fall off.
(2) Sheet-metal shutters: The advantage is that these work
well, once you get them all up. The disadvantage is that once you get
them all up, your hands will be useless bleeding stumps, and it will be
December.
(3) Roll-down shutters: The advantages are that they're very
easy to use,and will definitely protect your house. The disadvantage is
that you will have to sell your house to pay for them.
(4) Hurricane-proof windows: These are the newest wrinkle in
hurricane protection: They look like ordinary windows, but they can
withstand hurricane winds!
You can be sure of this, because the salesman says so. He lives in
Nebraska.
Hurricane Proofing your property: As the hurricane approaches, check
your yard for movable objects like barbecue grills, planters, patio
furniture, visiting relatives, etc.
You should, as a precaution, throw these items into your swimming pool
(if you don't have a swimming pool, you should build one immediately).
Otherwise, the hurricane winds will turn these objects into deadly
missiles.
EVACUATION ROUTE:
If you live in a low-lying area, you should have an evacuation route
planned out.
(To determine whether you live in a low-lying area, look at your
driver's license; if it says "Florida," you live in a low-lying area).
The purpose of having an evacuation route is to avoid being trapped in
your home when a major storm hits.
Instead, you will be trapped in a gigantic traffic jam several miles
from your home, along with two hundred thousand other evacuees. So, as
a bonus, you will not be lonely.
HURRICANE SUPPLIES:
If you don't evacuate, you will need a mess of supplies. Do not buy
them now!
Florida tradition requires that you wait until the last possible
minute, then go to the supermarket and get into vicious fights with strangers over who gets the last can of SPAM.
In addition to food and water,you will need the following supplies:
(1) 23 flashlights. At least $167 worth of batteries that turn out, when the power goes off, to be the wrong size for the flashlights.
(2) Bleach. (No, I don't know what the bleach is for. NOBODY knows what the bleach is for, but it's traditional, so get some!)
(3) 55 gallon drum of underarm deodorant. (Very important!!)
(4) A big knife that you can strap to your leg. (This will be useless in a hurricane, but it looks cool.)
(5) A large quantity of raw chicken, to placate the alligators. (Ask anybody who went through Andrew; after the hurricane, there WILL be irate alligators.)
(6) $35,000 in cash or diamonds so that, after the hurricane passes, you can buy a generator from a man with no discernible teeth.
Of course these are just basic precautions.
As the hurricane draws near, it is vitally important that you keep abreast of the situation by turning on your television and watching TV reporters in rain slickers stand right next to the ocean and tell you over and over how vitally important it is for everybody to stay away from the ocean.
Good luck, and remember: It's great living in Paradise!
posted by Cyril Beaton at 11:54 AM
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